SYD FC on UA or Air New Zealand Business
Aug 29, 2011, 8:53 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
From what I read here, I now expect the NZ fligth to similar to LX business which I just had the pleasure of flying SFO-ZRH. Yes, UA's first seat is bigger, and screen is better, etc., but UA SFO-SYD can have some serious burned out staff, that can often make it a grumpy experience.
Since I will do one airline each way, I'll report back. My main drawback on NZ is the connection - sometimes just nice to get on the plane, and get off at your final destination. But UA arrives so early in the morning, not much to do anyway......
Since I will do one airline each way, I'll report back. My main drawback on NZ is the connection - sometimes just nice to get on the plane, and get off at your final destination. But UA arrives so early in the morning, not much to do anyway......
Aug 29, 2011, 9:06 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 528
NZ All the way!
If you enjoy the experience of flying, then you should definitely do NZ in Business.
The UA crew to Sydney is the most senior and THE MOST burned out! I upgraded the the fare mistake to AKL via SYD to UA First a couple years ago and I was extremely disappointed.
The FA's are mean!
The NZ FA's are funny, professional, and attentive.
UA's International F experience doesn't touch any other airlines F that I have tried (Thai, Oz, LH, SQ, Emirates - all on awards)
IMHO
The UA crew to Sydney is the most senior and THE MOST burned out! I upgraded the the fare mistake to AKL via SYD to UA First a couple years ago and I was extremely disappointed.
The FA's are mean!
The NZ FA's are funny, professional, and attentive.
UA's International F experience doesn't touch any other airlines F that I have tried (Thai, Oz, LH, SQ, Emirates - all on awards)
IMHO
Aug 29, 2011, 9:10 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
NZ food is nothing special - not bad, not great.
If going to New Zealand, by all means take NZ. But if going to SYD and F is available, it makes no sense to take a detour through AKL to get an inferior product.
Aug 29, 2011, 9:16 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,923
There simply is no comparison between UA F seat and NZ business seat. I've been in both and the NZ seat compares very unfavorably to UA F. I find it to be a lousy seat since its recline is limited. To convert it into a bed, you have to get up out of the seat and flip it over.
NZ food is nothing special - not bad, not great.
If going to New Zealand, by all means take NZ. But if going to SYD and F is available, it makes no sense to take a detour through AKL to get an inferior product.
NZ food is nothing special - not bad, not great.
If going to New Zealand, by all means take NZ. But if going to SYD and F is available, it makes no sense to take a detour through AKL to get an inferior product.
You sound like you're talking about SQ, you don't have to get up to change the NZ seat into a bed, unless I missed something.
Aug 29, 2011, 9:23 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
This is getting interesting! Thanks everybody.
I'm on a waitlist for the UA flight for the date I need, so I might not even get the choice.
I'm on a waitlist for the UA flight for the date I need, so I might not even get the choice.
Aug 29, 2011, 10:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: 1P, AA EXP, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,491
I admit I am partial to great airlines like NZ that take their service and reliability of their aircraft very seriously (and I actually don't mind the connection in AKL with its excellent lounge and nice selection of wines and manuka honey at the duty free).
Aug 29, 2011, 10:55 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,227
NZ business class required you to get up and flip the seat over to make a fully flat bed as of a year ago. I think they may have come out with a new seat but not sure if it is rolled out across the entire fleet yet. I would take UA simply because on this flight you'll want to sleep as much as possible and UA will have a quieter cabin and wider flat bed thanks to it being a true first class seat. If you were flying the other direction I'd choose NZ for better service, food and entertainment. NZ's biz seat is one of the best in the sky but UA's first still tops it as far as comfort.
Aug 30, 2011, 12:25 am
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Close to the beach
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K, DL GM, Tumlare Bussresor Super Class
Posts: 6,974
Aug 30, 2011, 9:40 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
Aug 30, 2011, 12:33 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU, NC, USA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton something
Posts: 841
I've done both. UA F is a slightly bigger seat, but you do have more "space" of your own outside the actual seat itself. To me, the NZ seat is far far more comfortable even though it's a little smaller.
Service is completely in favor of NZ. It's exceptional service, good food, great wine, pleasant, etc. On UA's very best day their service is merely "equal" to what I get on NZ every time.
Service is completely in favor of NZ. It's exceptional service, good food, great wine, pleasant, etc. On UA's very best day their service is merely "equal" to what I get on NZ every time.
Aug 30, 2011, 1:58 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Stanmore, Sydney, Australia.
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE
Posts: 1,360
Business Class on the 767 is not BP but sure beats Y.
Aug 30, 2011, 5:21 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC, NY
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold,
Posts: 1,178
Having recently flown a bunch of NZ and VS as well as UA F, I can't imagine a universe in which the NZ hard product is better. The VS/NZ seat was awesome in 2004, but now is a tatty relic.
Staff were generally good/friendly.
-G
Aug 30, 2011, 8:54 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
While many previous posters are citing having to get up to flip the seat as a disadvantage, I actually much prefer this design, as it results in a single, solid, flat bed to lay on rather than a bunch of seat sections with cracks that your body can wedge into. That said, UA's new F seats aren't anything to avoid anymore. And I'd take NZ C over UA F soft product any day of the week.
Aug 31, 2011, 3:57 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
The seats on NZ's new 773's are not (yet) tatty...
..and the addition of the new mattress pad has turned a decent C bed into a very good one indeed... (at least IMO)
..and the addition of the new mattress pad has turned a decent C bed into a very good one indeed... (at least IMO)
Aug 31, 2011, 4:51 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
There are 777s' that head down to SYD as well- just few and far between.
Yes, I'd agree in going for NZ on this route over UA.
Yes, I'd agree in going for NZ on this route over UA.